Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders (Printable)

Smoky bacon-wrapped chicken tenders with a caramelized brown sugar coating for irresistible sweet and savory flavor.

# What goes in:

→ Chicken

01 - 1 lb chicken tenders
02 - 1/2 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

→ Coating

04 - 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
05 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1/4 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

→ Bacon

08 - 8 slices bacon, cut in half

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and place a wire rack on top.
02 - Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
03 - In a shallow bowl, combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper until evenly blended.
04 - Wrap each chicken tender with a half-slice of bacon, overlapping slightly to secure. Use toothpicks if needed to hold bacon in place.
05 - Roll each bacon-wrapped tender in the brown sugar mixture, pressing gently to ensure all sides are evenly coated.
06 - Place tenders on the wire rack with space between each piece to allow proper air circulation and even cooking.
07 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once halfway through. Cook until bacon is crispy and chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F.
08 - Let tenders rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Remove toothpicks before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between crispy salty bacon and caramelized crunchy sugar creates that perfect sweet savory balance everyone craves
  • These reheat surprisingly well making them ideal for meal prep or last minute guests
02 -
  • The sugar will caramelize quickly in the last few minutes so stay close and watch for that perfect golden brown color
  • Using a wire rack is not optional unless you enjoy bacon thats part crispy and part disappointingly soggy
03 -
  • Thick cut bacon sounds like a good idea but it takes forever to get crispy and your chicken will dry out waiting
  • The broiler trick at the end creates restaurant style caramelization but do not walk away even for a second

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